Bio: Col. C. H. Ardis, Webster &Caddo Parish La
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890

Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker





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Col. C. H. Ardis is one of the leading merchants in the South, and firm 
to which he belongs is one of the most successful in the State of 
Louisiana, their business amounting to over half a million dollars per 
annum, and is increasing all the time, doubling itself in the last five 
years.  Col. Ardis, the senior member of the firm of Ardis & Co., was 
born in Edgefield District, S. C., February 3, 1828, his parents, 
Mathias and Louisa (Nail) Ardis, being also born there.  They removed to 
the "Creole State" in 1846, and located in what is now Bienville (then 
Claiborne) Parish, at Mount Lebanon, the trip thither being made in 
wagons.  Mr. Ardis purchased a large tract of land, on which he 
continued to make his home until his death, which occurred in 1860, his 
wife having passed from life seven years earlier.  To them a family of 
eight children was born, five of whom are living.  

Col. C. H. Ardis was brought to this State in his youth, and as he was reared
to manhood on his father's plantation, the advantages of the common schools
only were received.  Notwithstanding this drawback, he possessed a bright and 
active intellect, and began his independent career as a clerk.  After 
continuing in this capacity until 1849, he went to Minden, La., where he 
opened an establishment of his own, and successfully conducted it until 
the opening of the Rebellion, when he sold out and joined Gov. Moore's 
staff, and served on his and Gen. Allen's staff until the close of the 
war, when he returned to Minden and resumed business.  After remaining 
in that place until 1873 he removed to Shreveport, and in 1880 opened a 
wholesale house, which he still conducts, his trade extending over a 
radius of 100 miles from the town.  The firm deals in groceries, 
produce, bagging and ties, and in connection with this they handle a 
large amount of cotton annually.  Special attention is given to sugar, 
molasses and rice, and in order to demonstrate the large amount of these 
commodities the firm handles, it can be stated that in the month of 
March over 800 barrels of sugar were sold.  The store is located at Nos. 
616, 618 and 620 Levee Street, is convenient to both railroads and 
steamboats, and is the largest establishment of the kind in Shreveport, 
the frontage being sixty feet and the depth 150.  They keep two men 
constantly on the road, and are doing a business which adds much to the 
prestige Shreveport enjoys as a commercial center.  Mr. Ardis is 
counted one of the representative business men of the State, and 
besides his business owns real estate in the city and parish.  He is the 
financier of the firm, having charge of the offices, and his son, J. B. 
Ardis, is the general manager of the business, J. J. Booth being the 
other member of the firm.  

Col. Ardis was married in 1850, his wife being Miss Harriet L. Hamilton, by
whom he has had three children"  Mrs. Mary L. Parker, J. B. Ardis and Mrs.
Pennie Mills.  Mrs. Ardis is deceased, having been a member of the Baptist
church, of which Col. Ardis is also a member.  He belongs to the A. L. of H.
and is a director in the  First National Bank, his son being a director of the
Shreveport Fire Insurance Company and a member of the Board of Trade.  Both
Col. Ardis and his son are able financiers, and by their indomitable energy 
and close application to business, they have built up a trade which is 
magnificent in its proportions.